Buckle



Jan. 22, 1935. E, s. Mlx 1,989,016

4-BUCKLE Filed Dec. 28, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 E. S. MIX

Jan. 22, 1935.

BUCKLE Fil'ed Deo. 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'IIIIA l '11111114 l '1111111'. l rlll',

5 vide an all leather all) of the belt, the leather 'Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES BUCKLE Edwin S. MixRochester, N. Y., assigner to Hickok Manufacturing of New York Company, Inc., a, corporation Application December 28, 1932, Serial No. 649,211

23 Claims.

This invention relates to buckles and particularly in respect to buckles for use in commotion With belts for personal wear.

One object of the present invention is to probuckle frame adapted to receive decorative eiects which cannot possibly be obtained with metal buckles and which also affords greater comfort to the wearer owing to the flexible character of the leather buckle frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a leather buckle adapted to be made from a single piece of sole leather or built up of a plurality of plies of leather which will be characterized by simple, inexpensive and practical means for securing it to the body portion of the belt and for the mounting of a buckle tongue and loop without affecting the flexibility or ornamental appearance of the belt.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointedrout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. Y

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a belt provided with a leather buckle frame constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the endsy of the belt showing the same separated, the upper or outer side portion of a transverse loop on the buckle frame having been cut away or removed so as to show more clearly the buckle structure and the stitching connections by which the buckle structure is secured to the belt` strap.

Fig. 4 is a reverse plan view of the buckle end of the belt with a portion of the leather buckle frame broken away and in section.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the transverse loop.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the end portions of a belt provided with a buckle frame made up of a plurality of plies of leather stitched together.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 8 is a reverse plan view of the buckle end buckle frame being partly broken away to show the arrangement of the tongue and pivot.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the buckle ends of a belt shown separated and illustrating another form of the invention in which the buckle tongue is pivoted to the leather buckle frame by being` linked into an opening of the same.

Fig. l0 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, with the belt buckled. E

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, 1 designates the body portion of a leather belt, but other flat flexible material may, of course, be employed in the construction of the belt. The belt body 1 sometimes referred to as a belt strap or belt band is provided at one end with a substantially at, flexible leather buckle frame 2 constructed of a single piece of sole leather provided at its outer end or outer-end section with a large receiving opening 3for receiving the unattached or adjustable end 7 of the belt body or belt ystrap and having a bifurcation 4 at its inner end or inner end section or sections, thus forming or providing rear and front outer walls or portions and 6 and also providing a recess to receive the attached end of the belt body. The inner end sections referred to as rear and front outer wall portions 5 and 6 in fact constitute spaced flexible tabs by which one end of the belt body or strap is attached to the buckle as by means of stitching passing through the tabs and the attached end of the belt strap.

The adjustable end 7 of the belt body is provided with a plurality of openings 8 to be engaged by a buckle tongue 9 in the usual manner and the buckle tongue 9 which has a bend or depression 10 intermediate of itsy ends is provided at its inner pivoted end with an eye 11 through which passes a transverse pivot 12 preferably secured in the eye 11 by a crimp or bend 13, but the tongue and pivot may be secured together in any otherv desired manner. The buckle tongue may be considered as a longitudinally extending member particularly when the outer or free end thereof is in its normal buckling or holding position in respect to the buckle frame or body, and the transverse pivot is arranged in the longitudinal recess or bifurcation adjacent and in fact so as to lie against or about the transversely extending inner end wall or bight portion of the bifurcated portion, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the rear and front walls 5 and 6 are provided with small registering openings 14 and 15 to accommodate the eye of. the tongue and `to afford a passageway for the tongue to permit the tongue to swing in the buckling and unbuckling o-perations of the belt.

The adjustable end 7 of the body portion of the belt is arranged in a transverse loop 16 consisting of a strip of leather or other suitable material bent to form inner or rear and front or outer sides and connecting ends and having their terminals secured together by a metal clip 17. The loop is strung on the outer wall 6 of the recess 4 and the inner side of the loop fits against the eye 1l of the tongue, as clearly shown in Fig. 2

' plies or of the recess 4. This reduced portion whichis. preferably tapered in thickness is provided with a central recess 18 to enable it to straddle the eye l1, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 Yofthe drawings.

After the the body of the belt haveY been assembled, 'the side walls of or defining the recess 4 are secured together by stitching 19 o1" otherisuitable fastening means and the said stitching 19 ina singleV fastening operation confines the loop, the end of they belt,the eye portion of the tongue, and the transverse pivot pin that passes through the eye portion of the tongue, in the recess of the buckle frame. The single stitching operation holds all fourvparts together and does not affect the flexibility of the belt or interfere with the ornamentation of the' buckle frame.

Instead of constructing the substantially flat, flexible leather buckle frame of a single piece of sole leather it may be built up of a plurality of layers of leather 20 suitably secured together. In Figs. 6 toy 8, inclusive, there is illustrated a leather buckle frame formed of layers of leather suitably secured together as by stitching along the lines 21 and 22'. In fact in said gures 6 to 8 there is employed two layers 20 thus secured or stitched together and one of these layers may be referred to as the front layer of leather while the other may be referred toasv the rear layerl of leather; In Figs'. 9 and 10 there is illustrated a leather buckle frame formed of assembled plies or layers of leather 23 suitably securedtogether as by adhesive material and without the employment of stitching particularly at the forward or outer end section of the buckle "frame, In Figs. 9 and 10 stitchingA is shown but only at the bifurcated section of the buckle', to-wit, the inner end section ofthe buckle whereat the attached end of the belt strap isY located and in the immediate vicinity where the belt loopis located and this stitching isprovided Afor securing the parts mentioned in assembled position in respect to each other when the buckle frame is properly assembled in and hconstitutes a part of the belt structure. r In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6` to 8 inclusive, the buckle tongue 24 is provided with an eye 25 receiving a pivot 26 which is secured-between'the plies 20 adjacent the belt receivingopening 27 by the same rows of stitching. which extend across the buckle frame at the inner and outer sides of the opening 27. rEhe plies 20 form a recess or bifurcation 28 for the reception of a transverse loop 29 and the attached endl 30 of the body or strap 3110i the belt. After the buckle frame, the loop and the belt body are assembled the inner endl portions of the plies 20 are secured together by stitching 32 or other suitable fastening means which connect the buckle frame and the .body of theV belt and coni-lne the loop in the recess or Abifurcation of the buckle frame. The plies 20 of the buckle frame are provided at the inner side of the opening. 27 with slots -33 which extendv to the opening 27 and accommodate the eye of the tongue of the buckle. The adjustable end 34 of the belt body is ,passed through the opening 27 and one of its apertures 35 is engaged by the tongue 24 which is provided with a bend or depression 36 to enable the freeterminal portion of the tongue to lie fiat against the front face of the buckle frame in buckle frame, theton'gue, the loop and the same manner as the tongue 9 heretofore described.

In the form of the substantially flat,.flexible buckle frame illustrated in Figs. 9 and* 10 of the drawings the tongue 37 which is provided inter- .mediate of its ends with a slight bend or depressio'n 38 has an eye 39 at its inner end which is linked into an opening 40 in the'buckle frame.

The opening 40 is located adjacent the inner wallof the belt receiving opening 41 and the leather of the buckle frame lying between the opening 40 and the opening 41 forms a pivot for the tongue 37.

The plies 23 of the buckle frame form a slot or bifurcation 42 which receives the inner portion of a transverse loop 43 andthe attached end 44 of the belt body 45. After the buckle frame, the loop and the belt body are4 assembled the inner ,end portions of the plies 23 are secured together by a line of stitching 46 or other suitable means which confines the belt body and the loop in the recess or bifurcation of the buckle frame. The adjustable end 47 is provided with apertures 4'8 to receive the tongue 37 and permit an adjustment of the belt in the ordinary manner. v

The leather buckle frame provides a highly flexible belt and increases the comfort of the wearer -and at the same time is adapted to receive decorative eifects which cannot be applied to` metal buckle frames. y

What is claimed is: i

1. A buckle frame for belts in which the buckle is constructed of flat flexible material provided at the inner end with bifurcated sections forming front and rear tab portions for receiving therebetween one end of the belt body, a loop extending acrossv the buckle frame and having its inner portion arranged in the recess between said front andy rear tab portions, fastening means connecting the front andl rear tab portions and thereby securing the belt body in place between said tab portions and also confining the loop in the recess, and a tongue mounted on the buckle frame for engaging the other end of the belt body.

2. A buckle for belts in which the buckle is composed of substantially flat flexible material provided at the inner end with bifurcated sections forming front and rear tab portions between which there is received one end of the belt body, a loop extending across the buckle frame and having its inner portion arranged in the recess of said bifurcated sections, fastening means connectingthe vtab portions that define walls of the recess, which fastening means are for securing the belt body within the recess and for confining and securing the loop ends in the recess, and a tongue for engaging the other end of the belt body, said Vtongue having a pivot confined in said recess by the said *fastening means.

3. A buckle frame for belts in whichthe buckle frame is composed of flat flexible material having a belt receiving opening at the outer end and bifurcated at the inner end inwardly to a point adjacent said opening so as to provide a recess to one side of said opening and substantially in the plane thereof for receiving one4 end ofthe belt body, fastening means connecting the walls of the recess of the buckle frame and for thereby securing one end of the belt body therein, and a tongue for engaging the other end of the belt body, said tongue having a pivot confined in the recess by the said fastening means. 4. A buckle frame for belts in which the buckle frame is composed of flat flexible material provided at the outer end Withan opening and having a longitudinal recess in its inner portion whereby there is provided bifurcated inner end sections constructed for receiving one end of the belt body, the walls of the recess being p-ro-vided with relatively short registering slots, fastening means connecting the walls of the recess and also securing one end ofthe belt body therein, a tongue for engagingvthe other endof the beltv body, said tongue being provided with an eye located in the said slots, and a pin passing throughthe eye of the tongue and lconfined in the recess of the buckle frame by said fastening means.

5. lA buckle frame for belts in which the buckle frame is composed of flat flexible material and provided at its inner portion with bifurcated inner end sections whereby there is provided a longitudinal recess wherein there is received one end of the belt body, the front wall of one of the bifurcated end sections being provided with a slot, a tongue having an eye portion passing into said slot, a transverse pivot located in the recess and passing through -the eye of the tongue, and fastening means for securing thebelt body in the recess of the buckle frame and for conning the pivot in said recess. k

6. A buckle frame for belts in which the buckle frame isl composed of flat flexible material and provided at its inner portion with bifurcated end sections whereby there is provided a longitudinal recess wherein there is received one end of the belt body, the portion that provided the front wall of the recess being provided with a slot, a tongue passing through the saidv slot and provided in the said recess with an eye, a transverse pivot located in the recess and passing through the eye of the tongue, fastening means for securing that portion of the belt body which extends into the recess of the buckle frame to the bifurcated end sections that define the recess, confining the pivot in said recess and along the front wall of the recess, and a transverse loop strung'on the outer wall of the recess and having inner terminal portions arranged in said recess and provided with a metallic connecting clip tted against the eye of the tongue, said loop'being'confined inthe lrecess by said fastening means. u Y

7. A buckle frame for belts in which 4the buckle frame is constructed of a singlepiece of leather and provided in its outer portion with an opening and having a bifurcationA in its inner portion forming inner and outer side walls, said bifurcation receiving one end of the belt body, stitching connecting the walls of' thebifurcation and securing. the belt body in the bifurcations, a loop strung on the outer wall of the bifurcation and having its inner portion confined in the bifurcation by the said stitching, and a tongue pivotally mounted on the buckle frame. f i

8. A buckle frame for belts in which thebuckle frame is constructed of a single piece. of leather and provided in its outer portion 'with an opening and having a bifurcation in its inner portion forming inner and outer side walls, said bifurcation being a-dapted to receive one end of the belt body, stitching connecting the walls of the bifurcation and securing the belt body in the bifurcation, a loop strung on the outer wall of the bifurcation and having its inner portion confined in the bifurcation by the said stitching, and a tongue having a transverse pivot confined in the bifurcation by the said stitches and located contiguous to the outer edge of the inner portion of the loop.

9. A buckle frame for belts in which the buckle frame is composed of a plurality of plies of fiat flexible material provided with an opening in its the belt body in the said recess and for connecting the side walls of the latter, a loop extending across the buckle frame exteriorly thereofv and having an inner portion confined in the recess' by the said fastening means,V a tongue bridging the said opening of the buckle frame, and means located at the inner side of the opening for pivoting the tongue to the buckle frame.

l0. A buckle frame for belts in which the buckle frame is composed of a plurality of plies of flat flexible material provided with ank opening in its outer portion and having a longitudinal recess in its inner portion forming rear and front walls of a bifurcated inner end section, said recess receiving one end of the belt body, means for securing the belt body in the said recess and for connecting the side Walls of the latter, a loop extending across the buckle frameiexteriorly thereof and having an inner portion confined in the recess by the said fastening means,`a tongue bridging the said opening ofthe buckle frame, and a transverse pivot arranged within said recess between the plies of the buckle frame for pivoting the tongue to the buckle frame.

11. A buckle frame for belts in which the buckle frame is composed of fiat flexible material provided in its outer portion with an opening and having a longitudinal recess in its inner portion whereby the buckle frame has bifurcated inner end sections between which there is received one end of the belt body, said buckle frame being provided adjacent the inner side of the said opening with an aperture, means for securing the belt body in the said recess, a loop extending across the buckle frame and having an inner portion confined in the recess by said fastening means, and a tongue bridging the opening of the buckle frame and having an eye linked into the said aperture whereby the tongue is pivotally mounted on the buckle frame.

l2. A buckle frame for belts in which the buckle frame is composed of flat flexible material provided in its outer portion with an opening and having bifurcated inner end sections between which there is a longitudinal recess receiving one end of the belt body, said buckle frame being provided adjacent the inner side of the said opening with an aperture, means for securing the belt body in the said recess, and a tongue bridging the opening of the buckle frame and having an eye linked into the said aperture whereby the tongue is pivotally` mounted on the buckle frame.

13. In a belt buckle, a body member having connected rear and front portions of leather and constructed so as to provide an outer-end section having a large opening that extends through both the front and rear portions and that serves as an outer-end receiving opening for the adjustable end of the belt strap or band with which the buckle is used, and which body member is also constructed so as to provide flexible bifurcated innerend sections constituting spaced tabs defined by the inner ends of the front and rear portions and which tabs are provided for receiving therebetween and for having secured thereto the attached end of the belt strap or band with which the buckle is used, said inner-end sections being provided with a small opening for serving as a receiving opening for a portion of the pivoted innerend of a tongue of the buckle, and a longitudinally extending pivotally mounted buckle tongue, the

pivoted innerlend of which is pivotally secured in respect to the buckle body in the region of said small opening and has a portion that enters said small opening, said tongue being suiciently long to bridge the large outer opening and arranged so that the free outer-end thereof rests against thematerial providing the routermost end of the body member.

` 14. In a belt buckle as defined in and by claim 13, a body member of a single piece of sole leather that is transversely severed in the inner end section thereof, whereby the front and rear portions of the body member are integrally connected because of the leather of the outer end sec-- tion being left undisturbed between the front and rearportions.

15. In a belt buckle as defined in and by claim 13, a body member made of a single piece of leather that is transversely-severed in the inner end section thereof but is left so that the front and rear portions of the buckle are integral because of the leather being left undisturbed at the outer yend section as between the front and rear portions thereof, and which buckle is constructed so that the inner end of the pivotally mounted tongue has an eye portion that enters the small opening and that encircles the leather portion left between the large and small openings.

16.'A buckle as dened in and by claim 13, accordingto which the front and rear portions of the buckle body member are provided in and by a single layer of leather in which a transversely extending bar is located within the space defined by the bifurcated inner end sections and in abutting relation with the material defining the bight of said bifurcated end sections, and in which buckle the tongue member has an eye portion that enters said small opening and through which said eye portion said bar extends and thus serves as a pivot pin for the tongue.

17.-' A belt buckle as denned in and by claim 13, according to which the front and rear portions of the buckle body members are of leather and are suitably mechanically connected as by marginal stitchings, in which buckle a transversely extending bar is located within the space of the bifurcated inner end section and in abutting relation in respect to the material dening the bight portion l of said bifurcated inner end sections, and in which buckle the tongue member has an eye portion that enters said small opening and through which said eyeportion said transversely extending bar extends and thus serves as a pivot pin about which the tongue swings.

18. A belt buckle as dened in and by claim 13, that comprises a loop extending across and in front of the buckle body member and. which loop has the end portions thereof arranged so as to extend within the space'provided by and within the bifurcated inner end sections, and which loop end portions are secured in place when the buckle is assembled position in respect to the belt strap.

' 19. A buckle for belts in which the buckle is constructed of substantially flat flexible material including at the rear end thereof front and rear tab portions providing a recess to receive one end of a belt, said buckle having an' opening at the front end thereof spaced from said tab portions to ref ceive the other end of the belt, a loop having a portion thereof extending transversely between said tab portions and thereby supported on'the buckle, and a tongue pivotally mounted on the buckle for coaction with said opening.

2,0. A buckle for belts in which the buckle is con-' structed of substantially flat exible material including at the rear end thereof front and rear tab portions providing a recess to receive one end of a belt, said buckle having an opening at the front end thereof spaced from said tab portions to receive the other end of the belt, a loop having a portion thereof extending transversely between said tab portions and a tongue ypivoted on the buckle.

21. A buckle for belts in which the buckle is constructed of substantially fla-t flexible material including at the rear end thereof front and rear tab portions providing a recess to receive one end of a belt, said buckle having an opening at the front end thereof spaced from said tab portions to receive the other'end of the belt, a loop having a portion thereof extending transversely between said tab portions at the inner ends of said tab portions to lie at the inner end of that portion of the belt which is insertable between said tab portions, a relatively long transversely disposed pivot pin between said tab portions and arranged between the loop and said opening at the front end of the buckle, and a tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot pin.

22. A buckle composed of substantially nat ilexible leather having a belt receiving opening at one end and which is bfurcated at the other end with the bifurcation terminating short of said opening and providing a recess spaced from said opening for engagement with the opposite faces of the opposite end of the belt body, fastening means connecting the walls of the said recess for thereby securing said opposite end of the belt body in said recess, and a tongue pivoted in said recess and projecting therefrom to overlie said opening in the buckle.

23. A buckle for belts in which the buckle is composed of substantially fiat flexible leather having a belt receiving opening at one end and at the other end having a vrecess which terminates at its inner end short of said opening and thereby spaced therefrom and arranged to receive one end of a belt body, fastening means connecting the walls of the recess and said end of the belt body to secure the latter in said recess, and a tongue pivotally connected to the exible buckle for cooperation with saidvopening to securean end of a belt therein.

' EDWIN S. MIX. 

